making lemonade!”
What the hell?
Noah still couldn’t follow what she was talking about, he only knew, she looked distractingly beautiful with that robe slipping down one shoulder, and a defiant heat in her eyes. “I’m not leaving you here,” he said, folding his arms. “You’ll catch pneumonia, or get eaten by rats.”
“There are rats?” Evie yelped.
“Do you want to chance it?” he retorted.
She took a deep breath, and another. “Thank you very much for your kind offer,” she said primly. “But I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
There it was: the spinster tone Noah knew so well, bringing him back down to earth with a bump, and reminding him he had no business getting tongue-tied by any woman. No matter how captivating she was.
“Suit yourself,” Noah said, taking a step back. He’d already been waylaid too long by this tipsy, confounding stranger. If she was set on spending the night with a gull’s nest for company, she was free to make her own mistakes. “Welcome to town… And good luck!”
For a moment, Evie’s smile slipped, and she almost looked uncertain, there in the candlelight. She opened her mouth, as if she was about to say something—
Then the music changed to another bone-rattling rock song. She took a deep breath. “Thanks for stopping by,” she said, already dancing again. “See you around, I’m sure.”
She shimmied across the room, hauling broken furniture out of the way, and pausing to swig wine from the bottle. Noah could have watched her all night…
Which was exactly why he turned on his heel and strode away.
Noah headed for his truck, using all his self-control not to turn around for one more look at Ms. Evelyn Baxter-Jones.
What was he thinking?
He’d come to Sweetbriar Cove to escape from heartache, not hurl himself back on the fire again. And if Evie could make him forget how to breathe with just a shimmy of her hips, then Lord knows what kind of trouble he’d be getting into for something more.
Say, a kiss…
Noah climbed back into the safety of his truck, and slammed the door. His phone was buzzing on the console with a message from the blonde, waiting for that night-cap. But another late-night rendezvous was the last thing on his mind. All he could think about was Evie’s reckless dancing, and the defiant sparkle in her eyes…
He turned on the engine, and drove away, tires skidding on the loose pebbles. He told himself that his duty was done: he’d checked up on his new neighbor and welcomed her to town. She would just have to figure things out from here. But even as he turned back towards the highway, music fading on the midnight breeze, Noah knew, deep down, he was only kidding himself.
After that introduction, how could he stay away?
He’d be back at Beachcomber Inn soon enough.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thank you so much for reading!
Noah and Evie’s story is just getting started at Beachcomber Inn. Forever Summer is available to order now—and features all of your Sweetbriar Cove friends!
*** CLICK HERE to order from your retailer of choice ***
For sale: Beachcomber Inn. This charming B&B on Cape Cod has seen better days, but a little TLC will bring it back to life. Price: $1 to the right owner…
Evie Baxter has never been impulsive… Until the night she goes online to buy a new bathrobe, and winds up the proud owner of a bed and breakfast on Cape Cod. She’s hoping life in Sweetbriar Cove will be a fresh start away from the sympathetic smiles she’s been getting, ever since she was widowed before her thirtieth birthday. She’s not expecting to find a town full of quirky locals, the Inn in desperate need of repairs — or for her handsome new neighbor to make her heart beat faster in her chest. When he’s not driving her crazy with his playboy ways, that is…
Local firefighter, Noah Montgomery, isn’t looking to put his heart on the line. He’s sworn to keep his life simple and drama-free, until the new owner of the Beachcomber Inn arrives in town, and makes him think twice about his solo plans. Evie is beautiful, captivating - and stubborn as hell. She’s determined to get the Beachcomber Inn up and running again, and Noah is just being a good neighbor by lending a hand…
At least, that’s his story, but as the pair grow closer, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore. Soon, the summer is heating up with a passion Evie never saw coming. She knows heartbreak all too well, but can Noah convince her to take a chance on love again? Or will the tragedies of the past keep them from their new forever?
Find out in the new charming, feel-good trip to Sweetbriar Cove - featuring all your favorite characters!
*** CLICK HERE to order from your retailer of choice ***
Also By Melody Grace:
The Sweetbriar Cove Series:
1. Meant to Be
2. All for You
3. The Only One
4. I’m Yours
5. Holiday Kisses (A Christmas Story)
6. No Ordinary Love
7. Wildest Dreams
8. This Kiss
9. Always Be Mine
10. Two Hearts (Kinsella Family #1)
11. The Story of Us
12. Back to You
13. One More Night
14. Time After Time
15. Forever Summer
16. Simply Irresistible
The Beachwood Bay Series:
1. Untouched
2. Unbroken
3. Untamed Hearts
4. Unafraid
5. Unwrapped
6. Unconditional
7. Unrequited
8. Uninhibited
9. Unstoppable
10. Unexpectedly Yours
11. Unwritten
12. Unmasked
13. Unforgettable
The Oak Harbor Duet:
1. Heartbreaker
2. Reckless Hearts
With Every Heartbeat
The Promise
About the Author
Melody Grace grew up in a small town in the English countryside, and after spending her life reading, she decided it was time to write one for herself. She published her first book at twenty-two, and is now a New York Times bestselling author, with over three million downloads of her novels to date.
She lives in Los Angeles, writing books and screenplays full-time with the help of her two cats, Bucky and Steve.
Connect with me online: